Verdict: Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Delta Reign releases November 6, 2026, with prerelease events October 24 to November 1, and Mega Rayquaza ex is the card to chase. Don’t pay today’s preorder prices: the Elite Trainer Box is trading at $135.71 against a $49.99 MSRP, and Pitch Black’s preorder prices fell 32–80% within ten weeks of its release.
Updated September 25, 2026 · Set details from The Pokémon Company · Prices last checked September 25, 2026 (TCGplayer market; Japanese prices via TCG Watchtower)
Who this is for: Pokémon collectors and players deciding whether to preorder Delta Reign now, wait for release day, or skip packs and buy singles. Delta Reign is the English version of Japan’s Storm Emeralda, which has been out since July 31, so we already have two months of real price data on the same cards.
When does Pokémon Delta Reign come out?
Official Delta Reign key art. Image: The Pokémon Company
November 6, 2026, worldwide. Here’s the full schedule:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Prerelease events (local game stores) | October 24 – November 1, 2026 |
| Pokémon TCG Live | November 5, 2026 |
| Retail release | November 6, 2026 |
| Japanese version (Storm Emeralda, M6) | Out since July 31, 2026 |
Delta Reign is set ME06, the sixth expansion in the Mega Evolution series. It follows Pitch Black (July 17) and the 30th Celebration special set (September 16).
What’s in Delta Reign?
Over 135 cards, led by 4 new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex: Mega Rayquaza ex, Mega Golurk ex, Mega Malamar ex and Mega Golisopod ex. It’s the first Mega Rayquaza in the TCG since XY—Ancient Origins.
The official breakdown from The Pokémon Company:
- 4 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and 6 other Pokémon ex
- 14 Illustration Rares, 17 Ultra Rares and 6 Special Illustration Rares
- 6 Stadium cards that combine into 3 Legendary Stadiums
- More than 20 Trainer cards
The revealed English cards are numbered out of 103, versus 76 in Japan’s main set, so English adds 27 cards to the numbered set. The regular Mega Rayquaza ex is a 280 HP Basic. Its Ability, Ruler’s Roar, attaches a Basic Energy from your top 4 cards when you bench it. Its attack, Storm Emerald, does 50 damage for each Fire and Lightning Energy attached to all of your Pokémon.
What is a Legendary Stadium?
Legendary Summit: two Stadium cards, one artwork. Image: The Pokémon Company
A Legendary Stadium is two Stadium cards whose art forms one panorama when you place them side by side. Legendary Summit is the first one revealed in English. Japan’s version also has Legendary Ocean Trench and Legendary Lava Lake. According to PokeGuardian’s reveal coverage, a booster pack with a Legendary Stadium includes both halves, so you won’t pull one half and hunt for the other.
What are the Delta Reign chase cards? Japan already told us
Mega Rayquaza ex, the set’s headliner. Card image: The Pokémon Company
Mega Rayquaza ex, in two versions. In Storm Emeralda, the Mega Ultra Rare Mega Rayquaza ex sells for about $945 and the Special Art Rare for about $356. Nothing else in the set is close:
| Storm Emeralda card (Japanese) | Market price |
|---|---|
| Mega Rayquaza ex (Mega Ultra Rare) | $945.56 |
| Mega Rayquaza ex (Special Art Rare) | $356.19 |
| Raikou ex (Special Art Rare) | $66.88 |
| Mega Rayquaza ex (Super Rare) | $39.56 |
| Zinnia’s Trust (Special Art Rare) | $29.06 |
| Mega Golisopod ex (Special Art Rare) | $15.45 |
| Kyogre (Art Rare) | $14.25 |
| Mega Golurk ex (Special Art Rare) | $13.72 |
Japan’s Special Art Rare is called a Special Illustration Rare (SIR) in English. Japan’s Mega Ultra Rare has been carried over as a Mega Hyper Rare in English Mega Evolution sets (Pitch Black’s is card #120), but Pokémon hasn’t confirmed Delta Reign’s yet.
What will English Delta Reign cards be worth?
English prices don’t simply copy Japan’s. The last English set shows how they translate. Here’s Pitch Black next to its Japanese version, Abyss Eye, both priced today:
| Card | Japan | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Darkrai ex, top rarity | $445.56 | $147.22 |
| Mega Darkrai ex, SIR | $232.45 | $182.89 |
| Morpeko ex, SIR | $36.73 | $73.06 |
| Mega Zeraora ex, SIR | $26.27 | $48.22 |
Two things stand out. The English Mega Hyper Rare sells for about a third of the Japanese version, so in English the SIR ended up as the top card. And the second-tier SIRs sell for roughly double in English.
If Delta Reign follows the same pattern, the Mega Rayquaza ex Mega Hyper Rare and SIR would both land around $280 to $310, and the Raikou ex SIR could reach about $120. That’s a scenario built on one set, not a prediction, and English adds 27 cards we haven’t seen yet. But it’s a better guide than today’s preorder listings.
Should you preorder Delta Reign?
TCGplayer market prices. NerdSnack analysis, September 25, 2026.
Not above MSRP. Right now every Delta Reign product trades at a big premium:
| Product | MSRP | Preorder market |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Trainer Box | $49.99 | $135.71 |
| Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box | $59.99 | $599.92 |
| Booster box (36 packs) | $161.64 | $263.01 |
| Booster Bundle (6 packs) | $26.94 | $80.53 |
We watched this happen with the last set. Six weeks before Pitch Black released, its Elite Trainer Box was at $123, its booster box at $276 and its Pokémon Center ETB at $589. Today, ten weeks after release, they’re at $77, $186 and $117. That’s a 37%, 32% and 80% drop, and Delta Reign’s preorder prices are sitting right where Pitch Black’s were.
What to skip
- The Pokémon Center ETB at 10× MSRP. Pitch Black’s version lost 80% of its preorder price.
- Booster Bundles at triple MSRP. $80 for six packs is $13 a pack. At MSRP it’s $4.49.
- Chasing Mega Rayquaza in packs if it’s the only card you want. Once English singles settle, buying the card will almost certainly cost less than opening for it.
Which Delta Reign product should you buy?
Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box. Product image: The Pokémon Company
At MSRP, the booster box is the best value per pack, and the Elite Trainer Box is the best gift.
| Product (MSRP) | Best for |
|---|---|
| Booster box, $161.64 (36 packs, $4.49 each) | Collectors chasing Mega Rayquaza ex |
| Elite Trainer Box, $49.99 (9 packs + promo, sleeves, dice) | Gifts and new players |
| Booster Bundle, $26.94 (6 packs) | A cheap taste of the set |
| Build & Battle Box, $21.99 | Prerelease players (Oct 24 – Nov 1) |
Retailers like the Pokémon Center, Target and Best Buy sell at MSRP when stock drops, so check them before paying marketplace prices. If you do pull a Mega Rayquaza, sleeve it and put it in a toploader the same day. Our PSA vs BGS vs CGC grading guide covers what to do next.
Pulled a Mega Rayquaza? Protect it
More Pokémon TCG guides
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Pokémon Delta Reign release?
November 6, 2026. Prerelease events run October 24 to November 1, and the set arrives in Pokémon TCG Live on November 5.
What is Delta Reign called in Japan?
Storm Emeralda (M6), released in Japan on July 31, 2026. Delta Reign adds 27 cards to the numbered set, 103 versus Japan’s 76.
What is the most valuable card in Delta Reign?
Mega Rayquaza ex. In Japan, its Mega Ultra Rare sells for about $945 and its Special Art Rare for about $356. English prices won’t be known until after November 6.
How much is a Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box?
$49.99 MSRP, or $59.99 for the Pokémon Center version. Preorders are selling for $135.71 and $599.92 as of September 25, 2026.
Next step: if you play, book a prerelease slot at your local game store for October 24. If you collect, wait for MSRP restocks around November 6, and skip the preorder markup.
Sources: set details and MSRPs from The Pokémon Company’s Delta Reign announcement and PokeGuardian. Japanese and English card prices from TCG Watchtower. Sealed prices and price history from TCGplayer. All prices checked September 25, 2026.
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